April 3, 2005

Box Score |  Photo Gallery

The University of Texas - Pan American baseball team finished its three-game series against Coastal Carolina University on Sunday (April 2) falling 8-6. The Chanticleer's took the series 2-1 dropping the first game, but rebounding to take two straight victories and end the series.

CCU would score in the first inning, for the third consecutive game against the Broncs, collecting two runs off of two hits to open the game. UTPA would rally for two of their own in its first at-bat after Louie Alamia (Edinburg, TX/North Edinburg H.S.) doubled to left field. Alamia would then score the first of two runs off a defensive error from the Chants' before a RBI two-bagger from Otis Powers (Brownsville, TX/Simon Rivera H.S.) would tie the game at 2-2 after one inning of play.

After both teams went scoreless in the second inning, the Chants' would score two more to take the lead 4-2. The Broncs would then go to work offensively scoring three runs in the third inning after back-to-back doubles from Mark Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX/Howard J.C.) and Powers. Their hits would then set up Ricky Broyles (Longview, TX/Northeast Texas C.C.) for his two RBI home run to left field. The homer would be Broyles first on the season and gave the Broncs the one run lead 5-4 headed into the fourth inning.

Due to two defensive errors by the Broncs, CCU would score two more runs and recover the lead 6-5 in the fourth. They would then build on that lead scoring another run in the sixth inning to take the lead to 7-5. With an RBI single from Alamia, the Broncs would keep it close only down a run headed into the eighth inning. However, the Chants' would record their third error in the contest and give up one more run to go down 8-6 headed into the final inning.

CCU's Mike Costanzo would strikeout three UTPA batters to end the game and seal the victory 8-6, moving them to 23-7 on the season while the Broncs fell to 10-23. On the mound for the Broncs, Kelly Casares (Missouri City, TX/McClennan J.C.) would suffer the loss moving him to 1-2 on the season, while Coastal's Ricky Shefka recorded the win to take him to 5-1 this season.

The Broncs were led by Powers and Aaron Flowers (Rowlett, TX/Northeast Texas C.C.) who both finished the contest with three hits, with Powers hitting two doubles in the game.

The Broncs will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to play Texas A&M - Corpus Christi at 1:00 p.m. at Islander Field in Corpus Christi, TX.

UTPA Sports Information